There is a common assumption that contamination means excavation and disposal. Sometimes that is true. In other cases, it is not the best answer.
After sufficient investigation and risk assessment, contamination may be able to be safely managed in place. That can be more practical, more cost-effective and more appropriate than removing material unnecessarily. This is where a Site Contamination Management Plan or Environmental Management Plan can be useful.
A good management plan should explain:
what contamination is present;
where it is located;
what risks it may pose;
what controls are required;
who needs to understand those controls in the future.
Controls may include maintaining physical barriers, managing future excavation, restricting access to contaminated groundwater, maintaining vapour controls, controlling soil movement or recording restrictions on future site use.
For a management plan to be useful, it needs to reflect the actual site conditions and the way the land will be used. A generic plan that sits in a folder will not help an owner, builder, contractor or future site manager make good decisions.
Atma Environmental helps clients decide whether contamination should be removed, managed, monitored or addressed through a combination of measures. We do not recommend costly remediation where a defensible management approach is available.
